Kevin O’Keeffe Named Chairman of Reinvigorated Race for Education

[Wandering Eyes]

Members of The Race for Education (RFE) elected Kevin O'Keeffe as Board Chairman and Bill Casner as Vice-Chairman at the organization's recent board meeting. The board also includes original members Gay Bredin and David Ingordo, as well as new board member Pete Aiello, one of the RFE's first scholarship recipients and the current announcer at Gulfstream.

“It is an honor to serve as Chair of The Race for Education, which has awarded over $7.5 million in scholarships and educational programs since its inception in 2000,” said O'Keeffe, a Thoroughbred owner, breeder, and attorney based in Baltimore, as well as a RFE board member since 2012. “Recipients have pursued careers across the racing industry, including roles as trainers, veterinarians, bloodstock agents, and racetrack managers. Supporting students as they achieve their dreams while shaping the future of the horse racing industry is truly special. The board is committed to reinvigorating fundraising efforts and expanding scholarship opportunities for the next generation.”

In 2017, the RFE board and staff decided to wind down operations, with scholarships subsequently managed by the KEEP Foundation and an expectation to distribute remaining funds until depletion. However, the organization has since been revitalized by donors, including a 2024 bequest of $500,000 from the estate of Robert Reeves.

RFE Co-Founder and former President Elisabeth Jensen will lead new fundraising efforts, while Communications Coordinator Brittany Bell will oversee the scholarship application and award process.

In 2025, The Race for Education will award $85,000 in scholarships and grants, including two new opportunities: the Bob Reeves Memorial Scholarship, open to an Ohio student pursuing studies in equine, animal science, or agriculture, or whose families work in the equine industry, and the Dual-Credit Scholarship for high school students enrolled in dual-credit equine programs. Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available soon.

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